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Westvale is a huge, continent-sized island that makes up the vast majority of the territory of the kingdom of Cyrendar. Easily the largest region of the West, the island stretches east from the eastern shores of the Wyn Myr to the western coast of the Iron Sea, and south from the northern coast of Sea of Vaas to the rocky cliffs of the Iskari Strait, which separates it from the elvish realm of Antharë.

What separates the Westvale from all other regions of the west is geography and culture, for the people of this region along have the distinction of no history of constant wars and destruction. Because of that relatively peaceful history, the culture of the region is unlike that of realms further east. There is less emphasis on military strength and fortifications, and more on mercantilism, trade, and free enterprise. The Westvale is wealthy compared to other regions, simply because it has benefited from so many years with little war and no looting, pillaging, or other forms of destruction. Other than raids from giants and goblin tribes located in the northern Crystalpeak Mountains, there are few known threats to the local inhabitants.

Religion, spirituality, and the pursuit of art, literature, poetry, are all more important here than sharp swords and tall battlements. That is not to say that the Westvale region is not militarily strong. Even though the region has the smallest military forces per capita anywhere on Corwyn, the population here is so large that the Westvalians can still wield a tremendous army and powerful navy if necessary. Over the last millennia, the Westvalians have come to the rescue of the other western powers many occasions, and their intervention has made the difference between victory and defeat on several occasions. Today, most Westvalians are of Iskari descent; with a strong minority of ethnic Vaas and Cynaran peoples. Westvalians and are seen as arrogant and aloof by others.

HISTORY

In ancient times, Westvale was a far different place. In the Second Age, the island was populated and controlled by the Elder-Elves, and was part of the Elvish realm of Wyntharë. Eventually, most of those elves left Westvale and sailed west to Eryn Norvë, or migrated south across the Iskari Strait to the Isle of Vesarivon. In their wake, they left several fortifications and the elvish city of Wyn Falas completely abandoned.

In the Late Third Age, the northern third of the island came to be controlled by humans named Cynarans, who hailed from the northern Isle of Cynara. The Cynarans eventually established their own kingdom called Urland, and for over 300 years ruled the northern regions of Westvale.

Everything changed for Westvale Island and for the Cynarans in the year 1137/3. That year, a fleet of 1,000 ships sailed from the Continent of Iskandar to escape the "Doom." The 40,000 Iskari pilgrims were led by the famous Iskari hero Ilnavel Cyrenäe. Under his leadership, the Iskari spent several decades expanding their holdings on Westvale, eventually defeating the Cynarans in the Forty-Years War. With the Cynaran kingdom of Urland under their control, Westvale became dominated entirely by the Iskari who founded the great kingdom of Cyrendar, which still exists today.